Operating device for vehicle

Abstract

An operating device (10) for a vehicle comprises a housing (12) having a front wall (14). At least one operating element (18) is manually operable from a rest position to input a command or activate a function. The operating element (18) is associated with a switch (32) having a switch member (36), on which an operating key acts during manual operation. Furthermore, a support element (24) is arranged in the housing (12) at a distance from the operating element (18), the switch (32) associated with the operating element (18) is arranged on the support element (24), the support element (24) having a curved rod (40), the upper side (42) of which faces the operating element (18) and the lower side (44) faces away from the upper side (42), and the switch (32) is arranged on the curved rod. Finally, the operating device (10) is provided with an adjustment member (46) acting on the bending rod (40) for adjusting the bending position of the bending rod (40) relative to the operating element (18) in the rest position and for maintaining and thus stabilizing the bending rod (40) in its adjusted bending position when the operating element (18) acts on the switch member (36). The adjustment member (46) comprises a threaded metal sleeve (54) with an internal thread (56) and an adjustment screw (48) with a threaded shaft (50), wherein the internal thread (56) of the threaded metal sleeve (54) and the external thread (52) of the threaded shaft (50) of the adjustment screw (48) have the same or substantially the same pitch.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating device for a vehicle, in particular an operating device for vehicle components such as air conditioning, a navigation device, an infotainment system, and in particular a human-machine interface (HMI) for a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Vehicle operating devices are constructed and designed according to various operating concepts. In the case of operating devices with operating keys, it is sometimes desirable to keep the key travel as short as possible (so-called short-travel keys). In particular, when manufacturing operating devices, efforts are made to ensure that depressible operating elements, such as operating keys or also depressible displays with touch functionality, maintain the same travel distance until the switch triggering position assigned to the operating element is reached, despite given manufacturing tolerances. This is particularly challenging for short-travel keys.

[0003] US-B-6,919,522, US-A-2008 / 0316064, and US-A-2012 / 0044660 describe operating devices in which the depression travel of an operating element is adjustable. In the operating device according to US-A-2012 / 0044660, the switch assigned to the operating key is located on a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), which can be moved toward the operating element via an adjustment screw to facilitate adjustment of the switching path. In the operating devices according to US-A-2008 / 0316064 and US-B-6,919,522, the adjustment screw for adjusting the switching path is located on the operating key.

[0004] DE-U-78 25 480 shows a short-stroke key with adjustable travel. Here, the travel between the area surface and the tongue can be set by selecting the transmission ratio, thereby setting a certain contact distance.

[0005] An adjustment device for a key element is described in EP-A-3 020 896. Thus, a fine adjustment of the rest position of the key element can be performed.

[0006] One object of the present invention is to create an operating device for a vehicle, the structure of which allows a tolerance-compensated adjustment of the switch triggering position in a simple manner. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is achieved by providing an operating device for a vehicle, comprising:

[0008] - a housing having a front wall,

[0009] at least one operating element which can be manually actuated starting from a rest position in order to input a command or activate a function,

[0010] a switch assigned to the operating element, having a switch part on which the operating element acts during manual operation,

[0011] - a supporting element, arranged inside the housing and at a certain distance from the operating element,

[0012] - wherein the support element comprises a curved rod with an upper side facing toward the operating element and a lower side facing away from the upper side,

[0013] - wherein the switch assigned to the operating element is arranged on the bending lever, and

[0014] an adjusting member acting on the bending lever for adjusting the bending position of the bending lever relative to the operating element in its rest position and for maintaining and thus stabilizing the bending lever in its adjusted bending position when the operating element acts on the switch member,

[0015] - wherein the adjustment member comprises a threaded sleeve with an internal thread and an adjustment screw with a threaded shaft in the form of a self-tapping screw, wherein the internal thread of the threaded sleeve and the external thread of the threaded shaft of the adjustment screw have the same or substantially the same pitch.

[0016] In the operating device according to the present invention, the position of the switch relative to the operating element assigned to it can be adjusted at the factory. Typically, the switch assigned to the operating element is arranged on a printed circuit board or, more generally, on a support element located behind the front wall of the housing. In addition to the conductive paths, other electrical and electronic components are also arranged on the printed circuit board. For example, the switch can be a short-travel switch or a switch pad arranged on the printed circuit board. Capacitive, resistive, inductive, or optical switches in the form of sensors, particularly displacement sensors, can also be used.

[0017] According to the invention, the switch assigned to the operating element is now located on a bent rod of the support element. If the support element is designed as a printed circuit board, the bent rod can be designed as a web that is freely cut on three sides, one end of which is integrally connected to the printed circuit board and the other end is freely connected. However, the bent rod can also be arranged on the support element as an additional separate component, for example as a tongue or a similar protruding element. An adjustment component acts on the bent rod and allows the position of the bent rod to be changed. The adjustment component also serves to stabilize the assumed bent position of the bent rod when the switching component of the switch is acted upon when the operating element is manipulated, so that pressure is exerted on the bent rod by the switching component or the switch, if necessary.

[0018] Despite vibrations acting on the operating unit, the adjustment screw's rotational position should not change; the adjustment screw should be prevented from turning. Conventional adjustment screws are typically secured with adhesives or locking varnish. The adjustment component proposed in accordance with the present invention is designed to be self-locking. This is achieved by combining a self-tapping screw with a threaded sleeve with an internal thread. When viewed over a 360-degree angle, self-tapping screws typically have a thread with multiple high points. For example, a self-tapping screw with three high points is known as a trilobate thread. Furthermore, the radial profile of the thread of the self-tapping screw is not triangular in cross-section, as in conventional non-thread-cutting or non-self-tapping screws, but may differ, for example, by having an involute form. Such screws are inherently designed for self-tapping thread formation, such as blind holes (e.g., formed as cast holes). According to the present invention, a threaded sleeve with an internal thread is used for thread engagement with the self-tapping screw. This reduces the torque applied when screwing the self-tapping screw in, but does not necessarily compromise the self-locking effect of the adjusting screw in the close adjustment position.

[0019] The (external) dimensions of the thread forming the high points (and their number) and the cross-sectional shape of the thread, compared to the internal dimensions of the threaded sleeve, are determined by the torque required to screw the thread forming screw into the sleeve and achieve self-retention.

[0020] The desired switch actuation position can now be fine-tuned by adjusting the adjustment member assigned to the switch or bending lever with the operating element in its rest position. This adjustment is done until the switch or its switching element is in its actuation position. A certain minimum torque must be overcome when rotating the adjusting screw. By subsequently moving the adjustment member backward or adjusting it by a predetermined amount, the bending lever can be transferred to a bent position where the switch is positioned at a distance from the operating element corresponding to the desired actuation path. When actuated, the operating element must be pressed until the switch element reaches the actuation position. In this case, the minimum torque required to apply when the adjusting screw is turned backward is lower than when previously screwed in, but still high enough to self-lock the adjusting screw. This eliminates the need for safety measures, such as adhesives or locking varnish, to prevent accidental rotation of the adjusting screw, simplifying assembly and reducing costs.

[0021] The self-threading adjusting screws used according to the invention are sometimes also referred to as self-tapping screws. Self-tapping screws suitable for use as adjusting screws in the sense of the invention are sold, for example, under the brand name TAPTITE by ARNOLD UMFORMTECHNIK GmbH und Co. KG.

[0022] An operating element is typically an element with a plurality of buttons and a touch sensor system (capacitive, resistive, optical or inductive). Thus, a switch is always used to activate a command input by touching one of the buttons on the operating element.

[0023] The adjustment component is preferably mounted or guided on a reference element which has a defined and constant position relative to the support element and the operating element (in its rest position).

[0024] In other words, as described above, the present invention advantageously provides a switch component that is moved by an operating element along a switch path to a switch trigger position, and the bending rod can be transferred to a bent position by an adjustment component and can be fixed in said bent position, wherein the trigger path along which the operating element can be moved until the switch trigger position is reached, for example by the switch component, has a predeterminable length while compensating for assembly and / or manufacturing tolerances of the operating element and the housing of the switch.

[0025] Another advantage of the adjusting screw is that during fine adjustment of the switch, when the switch member has reached the switch triggering position, the amount by which the adjusting member is subsequently moved back is determined based on the amount of rotation of the adjusting screw when the thread pitch is known and can be approached in a targeted manner.

[0026] In one embodiment of the invention, it is advantageously provided that the threaded sleeve is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with a reference element positioned relative to the bending rod of the support element. This allows the threaded shaft end of the adjusting screw to be moved forward in the direction of the bending rod and bent by rotating the adjusting screw, wherein, when the bending rod moves backward due to its elasticity, the threaded shaft again follows the position of the threaded shaft end of the adjusting screw. The end of the threaded shaft that contacts the bending rod is advantageously protruding (i.e., provided with a "radius tip"), so that the threaded shaft rests on the bending rod with as much point contact as possible, resulting in a constantly defined rotation of the thread throughout the entire range.

[0027] As an alternative to the aforementioned, the adjusting screw can also be held in axial position as a “loose screw” on the reference element, in which case the threaded shaft of the adjusting screw is threadedly engaged with a threaded sleeve fixed / mounted / integrated on and / or in the bending rod and can be bent in both directions.

[0028] In order to avoid having to take into account the lever ratio on the bending lever when fine-tuning the switch by bending the bending lever or bending it back, it is advantageous if the adjusting element acts on the bending lever in a position where the movement of the switching member is extended when the adjusting element is actuated by the operating element. In the case where the adjusting element is located on one side of the bending lever and acts on the bending lever more or less during its adjustment in order to bend the bending lever in the direction of the operating element or to release the bending lever during its reciprocating movement, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the switch is arranged on the upper side of the bending lever facing the operating element, and the adjusting screw is located on the lower side of the bending lever facing away from the upper side and is aligned with the switch.

[0029] The concept according to the invention makes it possible to configure the switching system as a composite, thus enabling short operating element responses with a switching path of up to less than 0.4 mm. Furthermore, minimal actuation distances (less than 0.3 mm) can be achieved. The tolerances of the composite switching system can be reduced to less than + / - 0.1 mm. Tolerances of the individual components (key body, key guide on the housing or front panel, switch, switching element) and their assembly can be compensated.

[0030] In another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the operating device can be equipped with tactile feedback. If the user is informed of the identification of valid actuation of an operating element, this increases ease of use. This is particularly advantageously achieved through tactile feedback. For example, such tactile feedback can be implemented mechanically, electromechanically, or electrically. Mechanical tactile feedback can be achieved by mechanically stimulating the display with an actuator in a pulse-like manner. Another method for implementing tactile feedback is to emboss bending waves into the display or its cover glass. Another possibility for implementing tactile feedback is a purely electrical operation variant using a locally generated electric field.

[0031] In general, the proposed adjustment component according to the present invention can be used to adjust the position of a detector, wherein the detector is arranged on a curved rod, relative to the element to be detected. With reference to the embodiments described herein, the switch is the detector, and the element to be detected, in the broadest sense, is the operating element whose depression is to be detected. The detector can respond to mechanical touch or operate contactlessly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The present invention is explained in more detail below by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0033] Figure 1 A front view (perspective view) of the operating device is shown.

[0034] Figure 2 Shown by Figure 1 II-II is a cross-sectional view of the operating device.

[0035] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of the III-III region.

[0036] Figures 4 to 7 Display of the various stages during fine-tuning of the switching system (with respect to the operating elements), and Figure 8 and 9 Cross-section and side views showing the self-tapping threaded shaft of the adjusting screw.

[0037] Reference numerals

[0038] 10 Operating device

[0039] 12 shell

[0040] 14 Anterior wall

[0041] 16 displays

[0042] 18 operating elements

[0043] 20Control Panel

[0044] 21 Control Panel

[0045] 22 Control Panel

[0046] 24 support elements

[0047] 26 printed circuit boards

[0048] 28 posterior wall

[0049] 30 reference components

[0050] 32 switches

[0051] 34 switch back wall

[0052] 36 switch components

[0053] 38 incision

[0054] 40 bent rod

[0055] 42 upper side

[0056] 44 lower side

[0057] 46 Adjustment parts

[0058] 48 adjusting screw

[0059] 50 threaded shaft

[0060] 52 external thread

[0061] 54 threaded metal sleeve

[0062] 56 internal thread

[0063] 58 threaded shaft end

[0064] x distance

[0065] a Trigger path

[0066] b Curved path DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] exist Figures 1 to 3 The basic structure of an exemplary embodiment of an operating device 10 is shown. In this exemplary embodiment, the operating device 10 comprises a housing 12 on its front wall 14, for example, a display 16 and an operating element 18 in the form of a strip with three control panels 20, 21, and 22. A support element 24 for various electrical and electronic components is located within the housing 12. This support element 24 is typically a printed circuit board 26. The housing 12 also comprises a rear wall 28, which in this exemplary embodiment also performs the function of a reference element 30, which will be discussed further below.

[0068] according to Figure 2 and 3 , a cross-sectional view is shown. In this exemplary embodiment, mechanical switch 32 includes a switch housing 34 and a switch component 36 located below operating element 18. In this case, switch component 36 is designed as a plunger, which, when depressed, moves, for example, a conductive element for electrically connecting two contact fields. When operating element 18 is actuated, a sensor (e.g., capacitive) detects which of control panels 20, 21, 22 is touched, for example, by a finger of a hand, so that the command corresponding to the control panel touched when switch 32 was triggered is subsequently executed.

[0069] For example, the switch 32 is located in the support of the support element 24 in the region of the U-shaped cutout 38. In this way, a bent lever 40 is formed, on the upper side 42 of which the switch 32 is located, facing the operating element 18.

[0070] The adjustment element 46 acts on the underside 44 of the bent rod 40 and is designed as a combination of an adjustment screw 48 with a threaded shaft 50 and an external thread 52 and a threaded metal sleeve 54 with an internal thread 56 (see Figure 4For example, the adjusting screw 48 comprises steel, while the threaded metal sleeve 54 is made of a metal that is "softer" than the material of the adjusting screw 48, such as brass. The adjusting screw 48 is threadedly engaged with the threaded metal sleeve 54 embedded in the rear wall 28 via its threaded shaft 50. The threaded metal sleeve 54 is typically overmolded with the plastic material of the rear wall 28, thus being injection-molded into the rear wall 28 and having a relatively large surface roughness on its outer side (e.g., produced by knurling), so that the plastic material and the threaded metal sleeve 54 interlock with each other and, when the adjusting screw 48 is screwed in and out, the adjusting screw 48 and the threaded metal sleeve 54 are positioned or remain positioned in a rotationally fixed manner, even under increased torque due to the self-tapping mating. Preferably, the threaded shaft end 58 of the adjusting screw 48, in particular the protruding end, acts opposite the switch 32 by resting on the underside of the bent lever 40.

[0071] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment of the present invention, the bending rod 40 is bent in the direction of the operating element 18 so that the switch 32 is in a desired position relative to the rest position of the operating element 18. This distance position defines the distance after which the operating element 18 is pressed to trigger the switch 32. The operating element 18 is fixed in a known manner, for example by a locking hook or a snap fit, to prevent removal from the housing 12.

[0072] The fine adjustment process of the switching system according to the invention, consisting of the operating element 18 and the associated switch 32, will be described below with reference to Figures 4 to 7 Provide a brief description.

[0073] At the start of the adjustment process, the switch 32 (in this case the switch housing 34 ) is at a distance x from the underside of the operating element 18 in the rest position (see Figure 4 and Figure 5 ), which is greater than the required trigger path a (see Figure 7 ). With the aid of the adjusting screw 48, the bending rod 40 is now bent in the direction of the operating element 18, which moves the switch 32 to the lower side of the operating element 18. Here, the adjusting screw 48 must be screwed into or into the threaded metal sleeve 54 while overcoming a certain minimum torque. After the adjustment or bending path b is covered, the switch 32 is triggered (see Figure 5 ). The switching signal is input, for example, via the device test interface at the assembly end of the operating device 10, which terminates, for example, further manipulation of the adjusting screw 48, which is done automatically. It is now known when the switch 32 is triggered.

[0074] In this case, the switch system is set in the switched state in the operating device and is play-free. It should be noted that the switch 32 should not be folded into a block size; this is for mechanical protection of the switch 32 .

[0075] In other words, if there is a basis Figure 5 In the case shown, the position of the switching point (no gap) of the switch 32 in the system is known.

[0076] Instead, the precise switching path (triggering path) of the switching system can now be freely set by a specific reset of the adjusting screw 48 (whose pitch size is known). By turning the adjusting screw 48 back and resetting it, the switch 32 enters its end position and, when the operating element 18 is pressed, the switching element 36 of the switch 32 moves to the switch triggering position. The operating element 18 is thus moved by the triggering path a (see Figure 7 ). Turning back the adjusting screw 48 is again accomplished by overcoming a minimum torque which is lower than during the previous screwing-in but high enough to provide a reliable self-locking in the final setting position of the adjusting screw 48 .

[0077] An example of the shape of the adjustment screw 48 is shown in FIG. Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown. Accordingly, the adjusting screw 48 has a trilobate shape in its cross section. The threaded shaft end 58 is slightly tapered and has a centering or guide thread that is not necessarily trilobate. Self-tapping adjusting screws with a trilobate shape are commercially known, for example, under the brands TAPTITE 2000 or DUO TAPTITE 2000.

[0078] Furthermore, the adjustment member 46 stabilizes the bending rod 40 in the bent position it assumes after adjustment.

[0079] The tolerance chain of such a mechanical "composite system" can be reduced to zero using the aforementioned method and the aforementioned switching system consisting of the operating device design or operating element 18, switch 32, and bent lever 40. Despite the large component tolerances and tolerance chains in the composite material, small switching paths can be compensated.

Claims

1. An operating device (10) for a vehicle, characterized in that include: - a housing (12) having a front wall (14), at least one operating element (18) which can be manually actuated starting from a rest position in order to input a command or activate a function, a switch (32) assigned to the operating element (18), having a switch member (36) on which the operating element (18) acts during manual operation, - a support element (24), arranged inside the housing (12) at a distance from the operating element (18), - wherein the support element (24) comprises a bent rod (40) with an upper side (42) facing the operating element (18) and a lower side (44) facing away from the upper side (42), - wherein the switch (32) assigned to the operating element (18) is arranged on the bending lever (40), and an adjusting member (46) acting on the bending lever (40) for adjusting the bending position of the bending lever (40) relative to the operating element (18) in its rest position and for maintaining and thus stabilizing the bending lever (40) in its adjusted bending position when the operating element (18) acts on the switch member, - wherein the adjustment member (46) comprises a threaded metal sleeve (54) having an internal thread (56) and an adjustment screw (48) having a threaded shaft (50) in the form of a self-tapping screw, wherein the internal thread (56) of the threaded metal sleeve (54) and the external thread (52) of the threaded shaft (50) of the adjustment screw (48) have the same or substantially the same pitch.

2. The operating device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The threaded metal sleeve (54) is arranged on and / or in a reference element (30) positioned relative to the bending rod (40) of the support element (24), wherein, when the adjustment screw (48) is turned, the end of the threaded shaft (50) abuts against the bending rod (40) and acts thereon to bend the bending rod (40).

3. The operating device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that The end of the adjusting screw (48) is formed as a convex curve and / or the threaded metal sleeve (54) is held in a rotationally fixed manner by form fit.

4. The operating device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The threaded shaft (50) of the adjusting screw (48) is rotatably axially and / or held in position on the reference element (30) relative to the bending rod (40) of the support element (24), and the threaded metal sleeve (54) is arranged on and / or in the bending rod (40), and when the adjusting screw (48) is rotated, the bending rod (40) can bend.

5. The operating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The switch (32) has a switch component (36), which is moved along a switch path to a switch triggering position by the operating element (18), and the bending rod (40) is moved to a bent position by the adjusting screw (48) and fixed in the bent position, wherein the switch path has a predefined length while compensating for assembly and / or manufacturing tolerances of the housing (12) of the operating element (18) and the switch (32).

6. The operating device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The switch (32) has at least two contacts that are electrically connected in a switch triggering position, or the switch (32) is designed as a displacement sensor that works in an optical, capacitive, resistive or inductive manner.

7. The operating device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The adjusting screw (48) acts on a position of the bent rod (40) which is located in extension of the axis of movement of the operating element (18) of the switch member and which extends through the switch (32) when the switch member is actuated.

8. The operating device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The switch (32) is arranged on the upper side (42) of the bending rod (40) facing the operating element (18), and the adjusting screw (48) abuts against the lower side (44) of the bending rod (40) facing away from the upper side (42) and aligned with the switch (32).

9. The operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that It also includes an electric, electromechanical or electromagnetic operation feedback unit that provides tactile feedback on the effective manual operation of the operating element (18).

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